§ 12. Mr. Critchleyasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will hold talks with the United Kingdom's European NATO allies with a view to setting up a multilateral fund to meet the offset 219 costs of the United States forces in Europe.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourI do not think it would be appropriate for Britain to take an initiative of this sort.
§ Mr. CritchleyDoes my hon. Friend agree that if such an initiative were to arise from one of our European NATO allies it would be worthy of support by Her Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. GilmourIt would depend very much on what the initiative was. As I said earlier, we are all agreed that it is important not to upset the Nixon doctrine: that provided Europe improves and maintains its forces, America will do the same. I think that America realises the importance of Europe maintaining its forces.
§ Mr. John MorrisSince, as I understand it, the harmonisation of trade is one of the objects or aims of our membership of the EEC, may I ask whether the long-term effect on this country of maintaining an unequal burden of defence expenditure, compared with our European allies, will distort our ability to trade competitively?
§ Mr. GilmourThat is the kind of argument that I expected the right hon. Gentleman to put forward in the defence debate, but he did not. I do not think that it arises even remotely from the Question.